We got a late start last Sunday. And today was the same! Since the rain never came, the pups and I then went to the east side. The last-minute plan to Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area put us on the trail at 2 PM.
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Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area at a Glance
Access: Quilomene Wildlife Area access
Round Trip: 5.6 miles
Elevation Range: 2100′-2800′
Gear: none
GPS Track: available
Dog-Friendly: yes
Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area
Today was the first day that the area was off-limits to motor vehicles until May. So I enjoy exploring this place during the off-season for that reason. But, to see wildflowers like the balsamroot or daisies, we would need to wait until spring.
Like many places with expansive views, crowds rush in when the weather is decent. It was cloudy today. But it was perfect for those who don’t mind the cold or the gloomy sky. So we enjoyed our solitude.
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Eastern Washington State
There is one thing about Eastern Washington, of which I’m not a fan. It is the desert part of the state. So the sight of rattlesnakes during the warm season is usually inevitable. That is why I started coming here during this time of the year.
While looking at the forecast earlier, I didn’t pay attention to the wind speed. But it ended up being a windy afternoon. The west wind has been blowing nonstop since before we came out here. And it continued well after we went back to the parking lot.
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Above Rocky Coulee
For recent trips, we would go up to Point 2901. It is the highest point on the ridgeline above Rocky Coulee. Then from there, we would enjoy the view of the wind turbines on Whiskey Dick Mountain. But we we were short on time today.
At two miles in was the lowest point of the hike. Then from there, we slowly went through the light brush up to the ridgetop. But the pup seemed to do okay through this part. Meanwhile, the west wind blew in all directions. So it was beginning to get more uncomfortable.
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Outro
Right before Point 2901, we dropped down onto the northern slopes. Then we hung out by the bump north of Point 2790. It was much less windy there. So we enjoyed some quiet time while checking out the wind turbines.
Despite the vast landscape of over 28,000 acres, we have yet to lose our way. I’ve even used my car as a point of reference to go back to the trailhead. With a late start today, we didn’t have much time to explore. So we got back to the car just after dark.
See more trip photos here.
